relative file path for layout
Skip to main content  Skip to search  Skip to main menu
Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

The Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference

The Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) was held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, from 26 February to 2 March 2024 with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration setting out a forward-looking, reform agenda for the organization. Ministers also took a number of decisions, including renewing the commitment to have a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system by 2024, extending the moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints regarding the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, as well as maintaining the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until MC14 or 31 March 2026, whichever is earlier. Ministers also formally approved the WTO membership of Comoros and Timor-Leste, the first accession since 2016.